I know it’s linkbait. It’s also a re-tweet, as a blogpost, and then tweeted. Sorry folks, but I liked this link. RT @hipsterbookclub: Damn. Michael Jackson had a cozy library. Some nice photos of some nice celebrity libraries. [via].
Tag: libraries
2010 in libraries
Because I am a detail-oriented nerd, I track the libraries that I visit. I usually take pictures if I can. Here is my post about the 2009 visits. I’m still using Daytum to track visits and I learned they just came out with an iphone app last month. I went to twenty-six different libraries for fifty-five visits total, I’m sure I have forgotten some. Here’s the short annotated list of what I was doing in libraries last year. I have a few library photos in this Flickr photoset.
- Kimball Public library (18) – my hometown library where I often worked this year.
- Hartness/Randolph (10) – the local academic library, open late, great DVD collection.
- Howe/Hanover (2) – my favorite bigger town library, so comfy, so lovely.
- Boxboro MA (2) – my Mom’s library, great for unwinding.
- Loussac/Anchorage Pl AK(2) – went here twice when I was at AKLA, neat architecture, busy place.
- Chelmsford MA(1) – came to see Brian, stayed to do work.
- Surprise AZ (1) – on a tour with my boyfriend’s parents. Neat libraries, so unlike New England libraries.
- Stowe Free VT(1) – former workplace of my great library pal Stephanie.
- New Bedford Pl MA(1) – I was on a weird research quest and they helped me out.
- Montpelier VT(1) – popping in to check email, lovely old wood in here.
- Burnahm Library, Colchester VT (1) – on a 251 club drive, nifty busy library.
- Goddard VT(1) – for a WordPress training, home library of my friend Helen.
- Beatley/Simmons MA (1) – before I gave a public speaking workshop.
- Cambridge (1) – walking distance from my boyfriend’s place, amazing renovation.
- Peoria AZ (1) – modern and fancy but sort of empty.
- Alling/Williston, VT (1) – fun history room and a snazzy bookmobile.
- Fort Lauderdale Reading Center, FL (1) – a weird non-library in some ways, well-loved clearly.
- Jericho/Deborah Rawson VT(1) – Fireplace and wifi, a great place.
- Palm Beach State College, FL (1) – busy place, old-fashioned building but modern collection.
- N Regional/Broward County Library, FL (1) – big and bustling, a little hectic.
- Niceville Pl, FL (1) – fun design, nice people, memorable fish tank
- Waterville NY (1) – doing great things, big lovely windows and light for a small place.
- Lantana Public Library, FL(1) – old fashioned and full, great location.
- Warren Branch, Indy (1) – super busy old style library/
- Nat’l Archives – Waltham MA (1) – friendly staff helped make awkward renovations managable.
- Maynard MA (1) – last library of the year, bright and busy w/ a great book sale.
stupid rules and when to break them: Netflix
I am a big fan of mild civil disobedience when it comes to some of the rules we have to deal with when operating a public library. There’s often a balance between being full protectors of copyright and providing optimal access to patrons. Some of the hoops we have to jump through can seem ridiculous and I am in favor of trying to push the envelope in many directions. That said, it’s been really interesting to me watching the general debate on libraries using Netflix to supplement their collection. I think it started with this Tame the Web guest post and the Chronicle of Higher Ed article. Then it moved to analysis by Read Write Web and then over to big media site Fast Company with the smallest of blurbs.
It was picked up by a ton of library bloggers. I was fond of Meredith’s “what were they thinking” post which has some interesting comments, most notably the comments by a few librarians that they contacted Netflix directly about their intended use and got either explicit or tacit approval.
Since Netflix does not have a way to amend the agreement in writing prior to starting the service, we contacted them through their published channels and explained our intentions for our service. We indicated which parts of the ToS we thought we would be violating (â€personal useâ€). We indicated that we would stop our service as soon as we heard from them that they would not abide by our intention in using their service.
Further down there’s a comment from someone who may be (or have been) a Netflix employee saying that the Netflix official policy is that this is a Terms of Service violation but that the actual policy is “basically a don’t-ask-don’t-tell policy. We were told if asked about the idea of a library lending Netflix discs to tell the caller that it was against the terms of use and they should contact their legal department.”
The big issue is that Netflix is responsible to their main customers, the studios, so need to be keeping up appearances. So, that’s curious. Strict rule abiders don’t use Netflix, rule benders sometimes do. I see this again as a repeat of libraries testing the waters with Kindle lending. Officially against the rules. Okayed specifically by the business from time to time. Still railed against by other people. How do you decide which side of the line to come down on?
secret rooms in libraries
One of the librarians showed me the secret room in the library if I’d write something about it. There is a secret room in the ceiling of VTC’s Hartness Library. 
You turn a key in a keyhole in a brick wall and a staircase descends from the ceiling with a great rumbling. Climing the stairs gets you into a disused room that used to be the bindery area but is now just used for storing shelves and old Eames chairs. It’s an odd and noisy room since it’s right next to the room where all the HVAC equipment is. They don’t use the room anymore because of ADA requirements and because it’s darned complicated to get into and out of when the library is open. I’ll add this freaky little room to my list of library attics and basements that I’ve been compiling. Places that don’t have elevators, places that are inaccessible or otherwise tough to get into. Thanks, Ben, for showing me another one. Here’s the list I can put together off the top of my head so far.
- Entering the sub-basement at Colorado College.
- Rubber stamps in the University of Alabama library basement (there was also a printing press)
- The stairs to the room upstairs from the Bradford (VT) library
- The Calef Library basement in Washington Vermont
- Old card catalogs at the Library of Congress
- Not quite on topic but the secret door [art piece, not functional to go someplace secret] at the San Jose State library is pretty nifty.
There’s an app for that – ask a librarian
“The [Washington] state library says it’s the first in the nation to offer an app for online reference service, although technically the app switches users to the phone’s browser for the online chat). The Ask-WA service, also available through a traditional web browser, makes use of more than 60 libraries and hundreds of librarians. A national cooperative of librarian helps answer questions after hours.” I like how the “other services” page that you get to if you’re not coming from a WA state IP address (I’m not) shows the Library Success Wiki, one of my favorite “stuff that works” wikis. [thanks david!]